TRACK LIST
1. Rise
2. Fly
3. Sneak
4. Call Me Pandora
5. Not Yours, Don't Touch
6. Nothing
7. Freak
8. You're My Song
9. Demon In Your Radio
10. Not Yours, Don't Touch (Radio Edit)
11. Rise (Dance Remix)
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RISE
Lyrics: Ranko Tendo
Composition: Noboyuki "Crash" Matsuyama, Shinji Yokota
Lead Vocals: Ranko Tendo
Background Vocals: Noboyuki "Crash" Matsuyama, Shinji Yokota, Jacob Trimble, Ken Hirata
Guitar: Noboyuki "Crash" Matsuyama
Bass: Shinji Yokota
Synthesizer: Jacob Trimble
Drums: Ken Hirata
Ranko's Notes
Rise was the first song I've ever written, and it's probably always going to have a special place in my heart. It's a story of how I learned how to get back on my feet again after some rough times, with the help of my incredible family. I hope somehow, somewhere, it helps someone else learn to ignite when their life has turned to ashes. Thank you so much, Crash and Shin, for writing the music for this and convincing me to bring it to the stage. You guys are absolute heroes.
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FLY
Lyrics: Ranko Tendo
Composition: Noboyuki "Crash" Matsuyama
Lead Vocals: Ranko Tendo
Guitar: Noboyuki "Crash" Matsuyama, Shinji Yokota
Synthesizer: Jacob Trimble
Drums: Ken Hirata
Ranko's Notes
For my niece, Mioko Sando. Auntie loves you, little phoenix. Always.
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SNEAK
Lyrics: Ranko Tendo
Composition: Noboyuki "Crash" Matsuyama
Lead Vocals: Ranko Tendo
Guitar: Noboyuki "Crash" Matsuyama
Bass: Shinji Yokota
Synthesizer: Jacob Trimble
Drums: Ken Hirata
Ranko's Notes
Sneak was written at a really rough time in my life, as I'm sure you can tell from the lyrics. I'm so blessed to say that everything worked out, and we're not being quite as sneaky as we used to be in our relationship. I nearly didn't put this one on the album because it was so personal, but someone really close to me convinced me that it was a great track and people needed to hear it. Thanks, AT. For this, and everything else.
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CALL ME PANDORA
Lyrics: Ranko Tendo
Composition: Noboyuki "Crash" Matsuyama, Shinji Yokota
Lead Vocals: Ranko Tendo
Guitar: Noboyuki "Crash" Matsuyama
Bass: Shinji Yokota
Synthesizer: Jacob Trimble
Drums: Ken Hirata
Ranko's Notes
Like I said, Sneak was a mistake. I shouldn't have written it the way I did, and it hurt someone I care about very much. Call Me Pandora is my wishing I could put the genie back in the bottle. I know I can't, and maybe it's healthier now that it's out there and everybody's cool with it, but I didn't want anyone to think the things I said in Sneak are still true, or ever really were. I'm so sorry, baby.
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NOT YOURS, DON'T TOUCH
Lyrics: Ranko Tendo
Composition: Noboyuki "Crash" Matsuyama, Shinji Yokota
Lead Vocals: Ranko Tendo
Background Vocals: Hitomi Uyeno, Emi Kimoto, Noboyuki "Crash" Matsuyama, Shinji Yokota, Ken Hirata, Jacob Trimble
Guitar: Noboyuki "Crash" Matsuyama
Bass: Shinji Yokota
Synthesizer: Jacob Trimble
Drums: Ken Hirata
Ranko's Notes
This one goes out to Saburo Kimura. He hopes you never forget his name!
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NOTHING
Lyrics: Ranko Tendo
Composition: Noboyuki "Crash" Matsuyama
Lead Vocals: Ranko Tendo
Guitar: Noboyuki "Crash" Matsuyama
Bass: Shinji Yokota
Synthesizer: Jacob Trimble
Drums: Ken Hirata
Ranko's Notes
For you, AT. For making me feel beautiful in anything, in nothing, and most importantly, in your arms.
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
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FREAK
Lyrics: Ranko Tendo
Composition: Noboyuki "Crash" Matsuyama, Jacob Trimble
Lead Vocals: Ranko Tendo
Guitar: Noboyuki "Crash" Matsuyama, Shinji Yokota
Synthesizer: Jacob Trimble
Drums: Ken Hirata
Ranko's Notes
This one's for all the freaks like me out there, with the hopes it gives you the strength to stand up to someone in your life who makes you feel the way I did when I wrote this. Hey, old man: Fuck you forever! Signed, Hana's daughter
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YOU'RE MY SONG
Lyrics: Ranko Tendo
Composition: Ranko Tendo
Lead Vocals: Ranko Tendo
Guitar: Ranko Tendo
Ranko's Notes
After all this time, AT, you're still the song in my heart. You are my joy and my light, my north star and my shelter from the storm. I don't know who I'd be without you, but I thank the gods every day that I'll never have to find out.
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DEMON IN YOUR RADIO
Lyrics: Ranko Tendo
Composition: Noboyuki "Crash" Matsuyama, Jacob Trimble
Lead Vocals: Ranko Tendo
Background Vocals: Hitomi Uyeno, Emi Kimoto, Shinji Yokota
Guitar: Noboyuki "Crash" Matsuyama
Bass: Shinji Yokota
Synthesizer: Jacob Trimble
Drums: Ken Hirata
Ranko's Notes
Once you put the CD in, it was already too late! Mwahahaha! <3
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RISE (DANCE MIX)
Lyrics: Ranko Tendo
Remix: Jacob Trimble
Lead Vocals: Ranko Tendo
Background Vocals: Noboyuki "Crash" Matsuyama, Shinji Yokota, Ken Hirata, Jacob Trimble
Guitar: Noboyuki "Crash" Matsuyama
Bass: Shinji Yokota
Synthesizer: Jacob Trimble
Drums: Ken Hirata
Ranko's Notes
Dedicated to the 1990-1991 Yusue High Fighting Lions cheerleading squad. All-Tokyo Invitational champs, baby! I couldn't be prouder to have been a part of all we accomplished together, and you will all be lifelong friends.
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NOT YOURS, DON'T TOUCH (RADIO EDIT)
Lyrics: Ranko Tendo
Remix: Jacob Trimble
Lead Vocals: Ranko Tendo
Background Vocals: Hitomi Uyeno, Emi Kimoto, Noboyuki "Crash" Matsuyama, Shinji Yokota, Ken Hirata, Jacob Trimble
Guitar: Noboyuki "Crash" Matsuyama
Bass: Shinji Yokota
Synthesizer: Jacob Trimble
Drums: Ken Hirata
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SPECIAL THANKS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Ranko wishes to thank:
* Hana Takahashi, for, well, just everything. For seeing something in this broken, desperate girl and fighting like hell to put her back on her feet. I will never be able to repay you, Mom, but I'll also never stop trying every day to make sure I earn every one of the gifts you gave me. I love you.
* Ayako Jirito, for being an all-around incredible big sister. You rock, Aya. You too, Kage.
* Yui Fukawa, for... gods, what not for? For your incredible advice, for your strength when I had none, for your wisdom, and your jokes. For teaching me that I am wanted, I have worth, and I have people who care about me when I didn't know what those words meant.
* Izumi Sando and her family. Izzi, a girl could not ask for a better teacher, mentor, friend and sister. Your confidence, your encouragement, and yes, your fashion sense have given me the courage to step out of my comfort zone and do this.
* Mei Hotaro, for absolutely, positively refusing to give up on me, even when I'd given up on myself. For hounding every record label in Tokyo until she found one willing to take a chance on us. For being the first one to put a microphone in my hand and push me onto that stage. You made this happen, big sister, and I'll never be able to thank you properly for it.
* AT, for being the fire in my soul and the song in my heart, the wind in my sails and the arms that catch me when I fall. My every breath is yours until the end of the world, baby. I love you forever, and I'm so proud to be your silly girl.
* Asana Tanaka, for being an awesome English teacher and helping me with so many of these lyrics. Hope I made you proud, teach!
* Kumiko Ikawa, for just being you. For giving me a few minutes every day to not be a celebrity or a singer or a cheerleader or anything else that came with expectations, but just letting me be a regular girl going and getting ice cream and giggling with her friend. I love you, girl.
Crash wishes to thank:
* My parents and my little brother Obu, for believing in this crazy dream.
* Ukyo Kuonji, for both the best okonomiyaki, and the best hugs, in all of Japan.
* The two-bit talent agency that fired us and promptly went out of business less than six months later.
Shinji wishes to thank:
* My parents, for putting up with my shit for 24 years and counting.
Jacob wishes to thank:
* My parents, for sending me to Japan to go to school for architecture, and then being cool with me throwing it all away to go be in a band.
* Zoe King, love of my life. I can't wait until we can be together again, gorgeous!
Ken wishes to thank:
* My father, for all of his support and for allowing me to focus on my dream and giving me time away from the family business to pursue it.
* Ryo Kajiwara, for everything.
Additionally, Ranko and the Dapper Dragons wish to collectively thank:
* Ariel Wright, for his tireless assistance as our sound and audio technician. You rock, brother!
* Hitomi Uyeno and Emi Kimoto. They joined us pretty late in this process, but they've made us so much better as a group and as a little family. We love you, girls!
* The staff of the Phoenix Bar in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, for giving us a place to play and all the encouragement and fried cheese we could stomach.
* Amaya Uyehara, Yuji Oe, Sachiko Muta, and everyone at Yokai Records for taking a chance on us.
* Kazuki Asai, for being with us at the beginning.
* Every single person who has bought an album, come to a show, or recognized us on the street. You are the real reason we get to do what we love every day, and we can't thank you enough for all of your love and support.